South Korea's ruling party backs joint military academy
· UPIAug. 6 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's ruling Democratic Party said Thursday that establishing a unified armed forces academy was a necessary national reform and pledged stronger safeguards against abuses of expanded police investigative authority.
Han Byung-do, acting leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party, told a policy meeting at the National Assembly that the establishment of a joint military academy reflected an "irreversible trend of the times."
"The traditional boundaries between military branches are disappearing because of the characteristics of modern warfare, including artificial intelligence, drones and cyberwarfare," Han said. "We also cannot ignore the practical problem of declining military manpower."
Han referred to President Lee Jae Myung's remarks during a Defense Ministry policy briefing Wednesday and criticized what he described as the vested-interest system centered on the Korea Military Academy.
"Three military coups led primarily by military academy graduates occurred during our modern history, but the academy was never held accountable," Han said.
"Creating a military devoted solely to the country and its people is the first step toward building a smart military," he added. "We will work closely with the government to establish the necessary institutional framework for a unified armed forces academy."
Party proposes safeguards on police investigations
Han also addressed the new criminal justice system scheduled to take effect Oct. 2.
With 57 days remaining before its implementation, he said the ruling party would seek the stable establishment of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency while introducing safeguards to oversee police investigations.
The proposals follow public concern over recent police investigations, including the Jang Yoon-gi case.
"As police authority expands, the police must demonstrate a higher level of fairness, transparency and investigative completeness," Han said.
The proposed safeguards would prohibit police officers from investigating cases involving spouses, parents, children or other immediate family members.
The party also plans to give the new prosecution office authority to request the replacement of an investigative agency and expand the right of victims to challenge police decisions.
Han asked the Interior and Safety Ministry to establish reasonable personnel and compensation systems to help the new investigative agency recruit qualified employees.
Party credits government measures for easing inflation
Han said the government's preemptive measures, including a maximum-price system for petroleum products, helped reduce the annual consumer inflation rate to 2.8% in July.
"This demonstrates that a swift government response can meaningfully reduce the burden on the public," Han said.
He said the government would maintain the maximum-price policy this month, continue discount programs for agricultural, livestock and fishery products and work to minimize heat-related harm among vulnerable people.
Democratic Party floor spokesman Kim Sung-hoe also pressed for a plenary parliamentary session next Thursday to process 35 pending bills that had passed the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
"The fact that it is immediately before the party convention has nothing to do with lawmakers opening a plenary session at the National Assembly," Kim said.
Kim also discussed a public recommendation committee formed to select candidates for a special counsel investigation involving the National Election Commission.
He said the committee would request recommendations from the Korean Bar Association and the Korean Association of Law Schools by Friday and proceed quickly under the legally required timetable.
-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260806010001933